Automatic musical-instrument player.



I. B. SMITH.

AUTOMATIC MUSICAL INSTRUMENT PLAYER.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 23, 1908. 1,109,554, Patented Sept. 1, 1914.

8 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

Witness e Gum/nu THE NORRIS PETERS (20.. PHOTO-LITHQ, WASHINGION, D. c.

I. B. SMITH.

AUTOMATIC MUSICAL INSTRUMENT PLAYER.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 23, 1908. .1 109 554 Patented Sept. 1, 1914.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

witness THE NORRIS PETERS CO PHOTOLITHOU WASHINGTON, D. C.

I. B. SMITH.

AUTOMATIC MUSICAL INSTRUMENT PLAYER.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 23, 1908.

1,109,554. Patented Sept. 1,1914

8 SHEETSSHBET 3.

vwautoz Z UM THE NORRIS PETERS C0.. PHOTO-LITHQ, WASHING rON. D. C.

I. B. SMITH.

UTOMATIO MUSICAL INSTRUMENT PLAYER.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 23. 1908.

Patented Sept. 1, 1914.

Fly/5 Ifiny Si n; A33

THE NORRIS PETERS 60.. FHOTO-LITHO., WASHINGTON. D. C.

I. B. SMITH.

AUTOMATIC MUSICAL INSTRUMENT PLAYER.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 23, 1908.

Patented Sept. 1, 1914.

e SHEETS-SHEET 5.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 23, 1908.

I. B. SMITH.

AUTOMATIC MUSICAL INSTRUMENT PLAYER.

Patented Sept. 1,1914.

6 SEEETSSHBET 8.

THE NORRIS PETERS LU PHOTO LIT 0 ASHING UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

IRVING B. SMITH, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR 'I'O ELECTRELLE COMPANY, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPGRATION OF PENNSYL- VANIA.

Specification of Letters Patent.

AUTOMATIC MUSICAL-INSTRUMEN T PLAYER.

Patented Sept. 1, 1914.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, IRVING BELL SMITH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented new and useful Improvements in Automatic Musical-Instrument Players, of which the following is a specification.

hIy present invention relates to automatic musical instrument players of that type wherein the sound producing devices of the musicalinstrument, (such for instance as the hammers of a piano) are operated by electro-magnetically controlled actuating devices influenced by, and responsive to, the note perforations in a. perforated music sheet.

The present improvements have been designed primarily as an attachment to be applied to the known makes of upright pianos without in any way altering the usual construction of such instruments and without interfering with free manual or hand-playing thereof; although I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself specifically to what might in a limited way be termed an attachment, as it will be obvious that the playing mechanism herein shown and described may be so associated with and installed in a piano during the manufacture of the latter as to constitute and form a part thereof, as distinguished from what might otherwise be termed or classed as an attachment.

Experience resulting from a long series of costly experiments has demonstrated that many advantages and much better results are secured by placing the playing mechanism or actuating elements for the sound producing devices, 71. 6., the hammers, in the upper part of the piano case, but owing to the narrow and limited extent of the unoccupied space in this part of the piano, it

has been difficult to provide an entirely satisfactory construction of playing mechanism having-the requisite strength, compactness, and simplicity, that can be attached within all existing'makes of piano cases without,in some instances at least, requiring either a cutting of the case or a reconstruction of some of the parts of the playing mechanism.

One of the prime objects therefore of the present invention is to provide a strong, compact, simple and efficient construction of electro-magnetically controlled playing mechanism that may be easily and quickly attached to any of the ordinary makes of pianos, the several elements of the mechanlsm being so constructed and arranged that no muflling of the musical tones will result from its use and ample free space willbe left, when the mechanism is in position for use, to enable the piano to be readily tuned without removing or shifting the position of said mechanism, which is a desideratum of considerable importance.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel and simple construction of carrier or supporting rail for the playmg mechanism. In this construction, the series of electro-magnets employed to influence the operation of the piano hammers are of the iron-clad type and disposed side by side and united in such manner that the shells thereof themselves constitute the supporting rail. The adoption of this type of magnet-rail, and the associated arrangement of parts, not only produces a very compact, rigid structure but also renders possible the use of. primary batteries for furnishing the necessary controlling current, a result hitherto impractical, on account of the large amount of current required by existing makes of playing mechamsm.

A still further object of the invention is to provide improved manually operable means under the control of the performer for moving all, or a series, of the piano hammers in the treble, middle or'bass, toward and from the piano strings in order to secure a great variety of variations in musical expression according to the musical score, or the individual concept of the performer, said means operating to eflect a regular gradation of the tones.

A still further object of the invention is to provide improved means for automatically taking up the slack in the flexible connections between the actuating elements of the player mechanism and the hammer actions whereby to maintain said connections operatively taut at all times, said means being cooperatively associated with and operable through the same instrumentalities employed to actuate the expression means.

The invention has in view other more or less important objects as will hereinafter appear in the following detailed description of the various parts illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a transverse vertical section through an ordinary piano showing my improved playing mechanism in position therein, the section being taken substantially on the line 1-1 of Fig. 3. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the playing mechanism complete. Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the playing mechanism, also showing parts of the expression mechanism. Fig. 4 is a fragmentary perspective showing my novel construction of magnet rail. Fig. 5 is a perspectix e view on an enlarged scale, showing an armature, and shoe attached thereto. Fig. 5 is a sectional view through the shoe, showing the method of attaching the hammer actuating tape thereto. Fig. 6 is a sectional view on an enlarged scale substantially on the line 6-6 of Fig. 3, looking in the direction of the arrow, and showing details of the expression mechanism, and slack adjusting means. Fig. 7 is a similar view taken substantially on the line 77 of Fig. 3 looking in the direction of the arrow. Fig. 8 is a plan view of the mechanism shown in Fig. 6. Fig. 9 is a transverse section through my improved magnet rail and associated parts. Fig. 10 is a perspective view on an enlarged scale of a fragment of the magnet rail showing an armature and the adjustable spring therefor. Fig. 11 is a similar view, looking at the other side of the magnet rail, and showing the means for attaching the armature thereto. Fig. 12 is a fragmentary view, similar to Fig. 9, showing a slightly modified construction of magnet rail. Fig. 13 is a plan view of the controlling levers for the expression mechanism and associated parts. Fig. 14 is a side elevation of the same. Fig. 15 is a detail perspective of the end of one of the controlling levers. Fig. 16 is a transverse section on an enlarged scale through the supporting bracket, substantially on the line 1616 of Fig. 1. Fig. 17 is a diagrammatic view, conventionally illustrating the music-roll holder, and reader mechanism, and showing the electric circuits employed. Fi 18 is a side elevation' of a modified orm of supporting bracket, showing the magnet rail in position. Fig. 19 is a front elevation thereof, the magnet rail being omitted for the sake of clearness. Fig. 20 is a detail perspective view similar to Fig. 10, but showing a modifiedconstruction. Fig. 21 is a perspective view similar to Fig. 11 but further illustrating the'construction shown in Fig. 20. Fig. 22 is a transverse section through the magnet rail illustrated in Fig. 20. Figs. 23 and 2 1 are views of the expression mecha nism similar to Figs. 6 and 7, respectively, and showing a slightly modified construction.

It will be understood that the player mechanism forming the subject matter of the present invention is designed to be controlled in its operation through the medium of perforated music sheets which travel from a delivery roll or spool over a suitable tracker or reader onto a take-up roll as is usual in instruments of this class, the said delivery, take-up rolls and tracker or reader being usually carried by what is known as a music roll holder, but as such holder forms no part of the present invention it will not be shown or described in detail, although the essential parts thereof necessary to a full and complete understanding of the present invention, will, later on in this specification, be shown and described in a conventional way.

Referring to the drawings in detail 1 indicates the frame or bolster of any well known make of piano and 2 designates the case thereof. The key-board is designated by 3, and 4 indicates the usual keys.

5 is the string plate on which are stretched the strings 6 in the well known manner. The usual hammers 7, supported by shanks 8, are pivoted at 9 to the hammer rail 11, and connected with the wippen 10 of the hammer action. The playing mechanism complete is supported in the upper part of the piano case by means of brackets 12 bolted to the string plate or frame of the piano. As clearly shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 16, a plate 13 is provided with an overhanging lip 14 which embraces one edge of the depending bracket 12, and is secured by means of bolts 17 to the magnet rail 21, hereinafter described. A bolt 16 passes through an elongated slot 15 in the bracket 12, and is secured to the plate 13. Another plate 18 is interposed between the plate 13 and the magnet rail, and a third plate 19 is interposed between the edge of the plate 18 and bracket 12, and is secured in position by means of a bolt 20 passing through the plate 13. It will thus be seen that by the construction above described, a readily adjustable attaching and supporting means is provided, which lends itself to all pract cal remiirements.

21 designates my improved magnet rail in its entirety. As clearly shown in Fig. 4, this rail consists of a bar of magnetic material, preferably of rectangular cross section, and in which is formed a series of vertically extending transverse chambers 22. As shown in Fig. 9, I insert a magnet core 23, preferably of soft iron, in each of these chambers, and provide the core with an enlarged bottom which may be screw threaded or otherwise secured in position in the chamber. If preferred however, and as shown in Fig. 12, I may form the bottom of the chamber integral with the rail 21*, and provide an opening merely large enough to accommodate the end 23' of the core. An annular space or pocket above this bottom is thus provided between the core and thewalls of the chamber, and in this space is disposed a magnet coil 24. It will thus be seen that the above described arrangement produces a series of magnets of'the iron-clad type, the outer shells of which are integrally united so as to form the supporting rail. As is well known, magnets of this type possess a much higher efficiency than magnets of other types, and are capable of producing a stronger pull with a smaller energizing current. Moreover this construction of magnet rail results in the production of a very compact and comparatively narrow mechanism, which isof such size that it canreadilybe inserted .in all existing i'makes of upright pianos without in any'yvay'changing or mutilating the same.

One set of leads 27, from the magnet Coils 24 extend through openings .25, provided with insulated bushings 26, and are soldered or otherwise secured to a common conductjing bar 28, secured to the side of the magnet a .metal clip 33, which is mounted on a bar.

34 of insulating'material secured to. the side of the magnet rall. From binding screws 37, carried by each clip 33, extend insulated wires .35, which wiresare bound into a suitable insulated cable 36, which is strung along the side of the magnet rail in any suit able position.

Clamped between the insulating bar. 34 and the magnet rail 21 is a spring strip, preferably formed of sheet steel, and provided with a number of upstanding teeth 40, one corresponding with each chamber or pocket in the magnet rail. Openings 39 are formed through this strip to accommodate the leads 32 above described, which leads lie in grooves 38formediin the upper surface of the bar 34.

v 41 designates my improved form of armature which is associated with each of the iron clad magnets above described. he clearly shown in Figs. 5, 10, and 11, the armature comprises a rigid body portion, and'aspring plate 42, secured to the body portion near oneench as by means of rivets, but spaced apart therefrom throughout substantially its entirelength. The spring plate is bent downwardly over the end of the rigid body portion of the armature, and is pro' tooth 40, of the spring strip and,after the armature has been properly adjusted, is tightened up so as to clamp the spring tooth between the head of the screw and the end of the armature. This aifords a ready means of adjusting the armature to a nicety, and also affords a resilient and noiseless support for the same. A set screw 45 passes loosely through the spring plate 42 near its free end and serves to limit the movement of said plate relative to the body portion of the armature. A small groove46 is formed in the lower face of each armature near its end for the purpose of accommodating a spring hereinafter described.

49 designates a friction shoe, provided, as is usual, with a facing 50, of cork or the like. To the upper'end of said shoe is secured a clip 47 held in position by means of screws 48. This clip is formed with spaced resilient ears which, as clearly shown in,

Fig. 5, are adapted to be sprung over the depending free end of the armature plate 42 so as to embrace the same, and are provided with openings which engage the pintles 44, and thus constitute a pivot for the shoe. The clip 47 is provided near its other end with an opening 51, the metal from which, as clearly shown in Fig. 5, is folded back under the clip as at 52 and serves to bite into and firmly grip the end of the tape 53 which passes up through the opening '51 and is secured at its other end to the wippen or other suitable part of the hammer action.

It will of course be understood that, as clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 3, a magnet armature, shoe, and tape are provided for each key of the piano, but as these parts are duplicates of each other, and interchangeable, the description of one will suffice for all.

-The tapes 53 are preferably passed around a fixed guide bar 54, carriedby the piano action, and interposed between the friction shoes and hammer actions in such manner as to hold the tapes out of the path of movement of' any of the parts of the mechanism.

To the side of the magnet bar underneath the fre'e'ends of the armatures 41 isattached a plate 55, provideduvith an outwardly turned notched edge 56/ A spring 59,preferably formed of steel wire, has one end arranged to lie in the groove 46' of each armature and, after being wrapped once or more loosely around a stud screw 58 set into the side of means for adjustably holding the end of the spring may readily be devised without departing from the spirit of the invention.

; These springs 59 normally urge the armature upwardly away from the face of the magnets, and stops are therefore provided to limit this upward movement of the armatures. These stops preferably comprise plates 60, secured at one end as at 61 to the magnet rail between the armatures, and having their other ends 63 overhanging the armatures. 'A set screw 62 passes loosely through each plate 60 and into the magnet rail, and serves, as will be apparent, to ad'- just the height of the free end 63 of the plate and therefore to vary the amount of movement which the armature may have. Pads, 64, of felt or similar material are preferably secured to the under sides of the plates 60 in order to render the operation of the armatures silent.

The springs 59 by their tendency to urge the armatures upwardly and away from the face of the magnets, also serve to lessen the shock or force of contact when the shoes are brought into frictional engagement with the actuating drum or power shaft.

The shoes 49 are coiiperatively associated with a rotary drum 65, which is preferably of conical form, and is supported in brackets 74, secured to the magnet rail 21. It is journaled at each end in ball bearings as at 65, and at one end, is provided with a pulley 121, hereinafter referred to. It will "be understood that the shoes are normally held away from the drum, and are forced into contact therewith whenever the corre sponding magnet is energized.

" 5 In piano playing mechanisms of this type it is customary to provide a rest rail for the hammer heads, which rail is capable of being moved toward and away from the strings in such manner as to vary the stroke 40 -of the hammers, and hence vary the intensity or loudness of the sound produced. In the drawings this rest rail is designated by 66, and in order that the hammers may be movedto a different extent in the treble,

I 5 ,middle and bass of the instrument, this rest rail 66 is made flexible as by hinging the same near its middle as at 67. The rest rail is pivoted at its ends 68 in the lower end of levers 69, and at its middle, the hinge is secured to the lower end 67 of a lever 70. The levers 69 are in turn pivoted near their middle to crank levers 72, which are carried at the outer end of longitudinally extending shafts 73 and 75. These shafts are journaled at their outer ends in the brackets 74. By reference to Fig. 3 it will be seen that the shaft 75 extends to an intermediate bracket 77 and that the shaft 73 extends from this bracket to the outer bracket 74. 0 A third shaft 76 is journaled at one end in the bracket 77 and at its other end in a second intermediate bracket 77, and carries at its end a crank lever 83, which is pivoted to the middle of lever 70. Secured to the shafts 73, 75, and 76, respectively, are

cranks 80, 81 and 82, arranged in proximity to each other, for the purpose hereinafter described. Each of the shafts 73, 75, and

76 has a spring coiled around one end thereof such spring being secured at one end to a collar 78 adjustably fixed to the shaft, and

at the other end, being attached to one of the brackets 74 or 77.

The levers 69 at each end of the rest rail 66 are, as above stated, pivoted to the end of the cranks 72, and at their upper ends are provided with an open slot 89 which takes over a pin 90, supported by the bracket 74, and spaced therefrom by means of a bushing 91, as shown in Fig. 8. The upper end of the middle lever 70, supporting the rail 66, is also provided with an open slot 93 at its upper end which coiiperates with a pin 95 carried by a bracket 94 secured to the magnet rail 21. This lever 70 is pivoted at its middle at 7 O, to. the end of the crank 83 above referred to. The object of so supporting the levers 69 and 70 is to cause their lower ends, carrying the rest rail, to move in a path which approximates the are of a go circle of which the pivot point 9 of the hammers is the approximate center. In Figs. 6 and 7 the path of movement of the rest rail 66 is shown by the broken line 96. The full line position of the parts in these figures 5 illustrates the condition of the mechanism when set so as to allow the hammers to have the longestpossible stroke thus producing the loudest or fortissimo effect, while the dotted lines indicate the position of the parts when the'rest rail is moved closer to the strings so as to produce a soft or pianissimo effect.

It is evident that were the levers 69 and 70 pivotally mounted at and 95 respectively, their lower ends, and consequently the rest rail, would swing in the arc of a circle with these points as centers. The hammer heads, of course, move in the arc of a circle with the point 9 as a center, and since, these two arcs are reversely curved, it is obvious that if the rail should move from one position to the other, there would be a sliding of the hammer heads on the rest rail which would produce a very objectionable 115 frictional resistance. By the use of the slots 89and 93 however, arranged as above described, the rest rail and hammer heads are caused to move in substantially the same path, whereby all sliding and friction between the parts is eliminated.

The above described shifting of the position of the hammers toward and from the strings results in shifting, more or less, the parts of the hammer action to which the tapes 53 are attached. In order to compensate, therefore, for such movement of the parts, and to automatically take up any slack which may be created in the tapes, and to preserve a proper tension therein, I have 180 found it desirable to provide a shiftable' slack-adjusting bar 84:, clearly shown in Figs. 2, 3, 6, 7 and 8. This bar is, like the hammer-rest rail, hinged at its middle to the upper end 85 of the lever 70, and at its outer ends, it is carried in brackets 85, which in turn are pivoted as at 92 to the upper end of the levers 69. The brackets 85 are provided with transverse arc-shaped slots. v86, working over screws 87, set into the upper end of levers 69, and spaced therefrom by means of washers 88. By loosening either of the screws 87 and moving the corresponding bracket up or down, it may be adjusted so as to vary the amount of movement imparted to the bar 8 1. In Figs. 6 and 7 the dotted line indicates the position occupiedby the tapes 153, when the rest rail is moved to its pianissimo position.

The springs 7 9normally cause the shafts about which they are wound to maintain the rest rail 66 in its advanced or pianissimo position, shown in dotted lines. In order,

therefore, to move the rest rail back toward its full line or fortissimo position the following mechanism is provided: To the outer endof each of thecrank levers 80, 81, 82 is attached oneend of a tape 98 by means of a set screw 97. As clearly shown in Fig. 1

fit

these tapes 98 extend downwardly through an opening in the key-board, and after being passed around cams 99, (see Fig. 14:) are secured to the ends of the rock levers 100. These levers 100 are pivoted at 101 to a bracket 102, adapted tobe secured to the un-,

der side of the key-board: Riveted to each of the levers 100 is a bell-crank lever 108, which carries at its end a socket 104, adapted to detachably receive the end of a removable key lever 106 which carries at its outer end a finger plate 105. The key lever 106 isprovided with a saw-cut 107, to render the same resilient, and with a transverse slot 108 adapted to cooperate with a pin 109,- carriedv by the socket 104, and which pre-i vents the relative rotation of the parts. The parts 100, 103, 105, and 106, taken collectively, will be hereinafter referred to as expression levers A pawl 110 projects inwardly from eachof the finger plates 105, and is adapted to cooperate with a rowof openings 111, formed in a curved plate 112, through open slots in which the key levers 106 project. This curved plate 112 is pivoted near its upper end to a bracket 113, adapted to be securedto the key-board 3. Pivoted at 11 1 to the plate 112 is one end of apair of links 115, the other ends of which are pivoted to a yoke 116, which in turnis pivoted to a shaft 118, carried in a brac :et 119 secured to the bottom of the keythecams 99. These cams 99 are mounted,

on ball bearings 120, on the shaft 118 in such manner as to be capable of independent movement. It will now be apparent that by depressing any one of the finger plates 105 the corresponding expression lever is moved, with the result that the respective tape 98 is drawn downwardly, and operates the corresponding rock shaft 7 3, 75, or 76, moving the rest rail 66 accordingly. By setting the end of the pawl 110 in any one of the series of openings 111, the parts may be maintained in any desired position to which they are moved. The cams 99 have a double function. In the manipulation of the key levers above described the cams are moved individually and in accordance with the respective expression levers, and when so moved, they have the effect of causing the tapes 98 to move with progressively increasing rapidity as the levers 106 are depressed. By this arrangement the regulation of expression is rendered more sensitive and delicate, since, during the first part of the movement of the levers 106, the shifting of the rest rail is comparatively small, while during the last part of the stroke of said levers, the movement of the rest rail is proportionately much greater. This enables the desirable shading of expression to be much more readily produced-than in the constructions heretofore employed.

When it is desired to play the piano manually in the ordinary manner, the curved plate 112 is swung on its pivot inwardly and upwardly as indicated by the arrow in Fig. 1 1, to the position shown in dotted lines. The links 115, acting 011 the yoke 116, swing the same forward, and the yoke then throws all three of the cams into the position shown in Fig. 1, or in dotted lines in Fig. 1a. This throws the rest rail 66 to its full line'position, and maintains it in such position, while at the same time the plate 112 lies under the key-board practically out of sight. In this position of the parts, the key levers'106 may be detached from the sockets 10 1 and removed.

In Fig. 17 I have diagrammatically illustrated the arrangement of parts in relation to the electrical circuits employed, and have also conventionally illustrated a reader mechanism, and the associated delivery and takeup rolls for a perforated music sheet. 12 1 indicates any suitable form of electric motor provided with a pulley 122 which is connected by a belt 128 with a similar pulley 121 carried on the shaft of the rotary drum 65, above described. The leads for supplying current to this motor are indicated at 125, 126. Current enters at 125, and after passing through the cut-out switch 127, the starting switch 128, and the motor 124, flows to the negative lead 126. The cut-out switch 127 is controlled by a magnet 129 one side of which is connected by wire 130 fso to a battery 131. From the other side of the magnet 129 extends a Wire 132, to a contact device 136. From the battery 131 also extends a wire 134 to the common conductor bar 28, secured to the magnet rail. The leads 32 from the magnets, which in Figs. 9 and 11 are shown as formed into a cable, extend to the reader device. This consists essentially of a series of spring fingers 141, each connected to its respective lead 32, which spring fingers are associated with a contact bar 135, connected by a wire 133 tothe other side of the battery. Coiiperating with the spring fingers 1 11 and the contact bar 135, and serving to control the passage of current to the several magnets, is a perforated music sheet 138, which is wound on delivery and take up rolls 139, 140 respectively. Suitable means, (not shown) are provided for driving the take up roll 1 10 from the motor 121, or from the drum 65. It is therefore evident that as each note-perforation 1 12 passes under any contact finger 141, current will flow through the connected lead 32 and the corresponding magnet will be energized, and the corresponding hammer operated by means of the shoe 19 and tape 53.

In order to stop the motor automatically when the music sheet has been all unwound from the delivery roll, a special perforation 137 is provided in the sheet near its end, and when this perforation passes under the cont-act device 136 above described, current will flow from the battery 131 through the magnet 129 and open the cut-out switch 127 thus stopping the operation of the mecha-- nism, and permitting the music sheet to beremoved from the holder.

5 Instead of the construction of supportmodified form of bracket which is provided at one end with a shank 203 formed with lag screw-threads 20 1, adapted to be screwed in to the bolster 1 of the piano frame. At its lower end the bracket 202 is provided with a depending screw threaded portion 205. A clamp 210, having a tubular portion adapted to fit loosely over the screwthreaded shank 205, is secured in place thereon by means of nuts 206, 207 and 212. The clamp is provided with a dovetail groove 209, which is adapted to embrace a dovetail slide 208, secured to the magnet rail 21. Set screws 211 are carried by the; clamp and are adapted to bear against the slide 208 and maintain the parts in any position in which they may be set. It will be evident that this construction of supporting bracket provides for universal adjustment. By screwing the shank 203 more or less into, the bolster 1, the distance between the player mechanism and the string plate may be determined. By moving the clamp up or down on the shank 5 and securing it in position by means of the nuts 206 and 207, and lock nut 212, it will be seen that any desired vertical adjustment of the player mechanism relative to the hammer actions may be secured, and, by loosening the set screws 211 and sliding rail 21 through the clamps 210, it will be seen that the position of the player mechanism may be adjusted longitudinally of the hammer act-ions.

Instead of the construction illustrated in Figs. '9, 10 and 11 I may, and preferably do, employ the arrangement shown in Figs. 20, 21 and 22. Referring to these figures, reference numeral 21 designates the magnet-rail while 41 and 12 indicate the armature and associated spring plate, respectively. 45 designates the set screw for adjusting these parts relative to each other. In this construction, however, the upstanding teeth 216 of the spring strip are not bifurcated as in the former arrangement, but are provided with elongated slots 226 through which the screws 226 pass. These slots provide means for the vertical adjustment of the armatures. Supported above the magnet rail 21 and spaced apart therefrom by means of bushings 225, is a stop rail 218 secured in position by means of screws 22 1. Into one edge of this stop rail is set a series of stud screws 217, the head of each of which is adapted to abut against the (mrresponding end of one of the teeth 216. A check spring 219 surrounds each of the screws 217. It will be apparent therefore that, by manipulating any screw 217, the tension of the corresponding spring tooth 216 may be adjusted as desired, and consequently its retractive effect on its armature correspondingly varied. In place of the overhanging plates 60, shown in Fig. 10 I employ a series of stop screws 220 set into the stop rail above each armature, and provided at their lower ends withsuitab1e pads of felt, suitable clieclnsprivngs 221 being interposed between the heads of the screws and the stop rail. These screws may be manipulated from above, and it is evident that by properly adjustin them the movement of the armatures away from the magnet rail may be limited to any extent desired.

Heretofore, in piano-player mechanisms employing a series of electro-magnets, it has been found necessary, in order to prevent the disagreeable clicking of the armatures against the pole pieces, to cover one of said parts with a layer of silk tape or similar sound-deadening material. This, however, has had the objectionable effect of very greatly weakening the power of the magnets. In order to obviate the necessity for interposing any such cushioning material, and to limit the movement of the armatures toward the magnets, I provide a series of spring plates 222. As clearly shown in Figs.-

rail. The free end 222 of each of these.

; spring plates is bent downward and extended to one side, soas to project under neath the adjacent" armature, and is' pro- 'vided with a pad 223 of felt, or similar material, against which the armature "may strike. It will be seen, therefore, that by properly adjusting the screw 229 the end of plate 222 may be raised or lowered and the movement of the armature toward the magnet poles 'may bestopped atany desired point, and it has been found that by this arrangement, it is possible to secure silent operation of the parts and at the same time to very much increase the efliciency of the magnets. In other words, the stop pad 223 may be so adjusted that the armature can approach the pole pieces much nearer than the thickness of the silk tape heretofore employed, would permit. Vhile I have shown and described my invention as applied to playing mechanism of the shoe and roller type, it will be understood, of course, that I do not wish to limit myself in this: respect, as there are many features of my invention which are equally applicable to other types of playing mechanism, such, for example, as those in which the hammers are actuated by direct magnetic pull. I desire to state therefore, that where, in the annexed claims, I use the expression hammer actuating elements I intend it to cover not only friction shoes,'but also, all other devices, such as push rods, and the like, which may be employed in any type of playing mechanism, and which constitute an operative connection between the armatures and hammer actions.

In SQIHQ ypes of pianos it is necessary to provide means for taking up the lost motion in the hammer action resulting from the movement-of the-rest rail toward its pianissimo 7 position. To accomplish such result, I: provide the mechanism illustrated in Figs. 23 and 24, and which mechanism may be employed in connection with the expression mechanismdescribed in this application. In' these figures, which are views corresponding to Figs. 6 and-7, respectively, the same reference characters have been employed to indicate the parts which are duplicates of those shown in the preceding fig- .ures, and other characters have been used to designate the additional features.

The levers 72 and 8801' the other figures are slightly modified in this arrangement and are designated 172 and 188. The levers 55 172 have elongated slots 17 2 formed therein,

and in these slots are set clamp screws 173. The brackets 17 1 have extensions 175 carrying at their ends rollers 176. Secured at one end to the clamp screws173, and passing downwardly over the rollers 176 are a pair of cords 179, arranged one at each end of the piano.

Lever 183 which is disposed near the middle of the piano, is provided with an elongated slot 18% in which is set a clamp-screw 185. ]he bracket 177 suo ortinp' these 0 l o 7 o n bars 1s orovlded with an extension carr 111 7 1 t) at its end'a guide roller 178. Secured at one endto' the clamp screw 185 and extending downwardly over the roller 178 is a cord 186. These cords 179 and186, disposed one at each end, and'one in the middle'of the piano, respectively, extend downwardly to the mechanism now to be described. I

The hammer butts are shown at 146, and the-jacks at 147'. These jacks are pivotally connected with the wippens, which are shown at 148. Pivotally connected with each wippen is a centrally disposed lever 1&9. Disposed underneath the ends of the levers 149 is a cross-bar 150, which is secured to the lower ends of the cords 179 and 186. Secured to this cross-bar are links 150, 150 which are pivotally connected with a fixed support 160. The cross-bar 150, like the hammer rail rest, is hinged in the middle. By this arrangement the cross-bar is adapted for executing a slight arcuate movement, in response to vertical movements of the cords 179 and 186. Secured to the ends of the cross-bar, and to its middle, are clips 151 and 152, respectively. From clips 151 extend rods 153, which are provided at their upper ends with heads 155, which rest in hangers 157, carried by the rest rail 66. A. similar rod 154 extends upwardly from the clip 152, and is provided at its upper end with a head 156 which rests in a hanger 158. This hanger is secured, as by a nut 159, to the lower end of the lever 70, on which the rest rail 66 is hinged at its middle.

The cords 179 and 186 are attached at their lower ends to the cross bar 150, as clearly shown in the drawings. It will therefore be seen that, as the levers 172 and 188 are rocked, so as to move the rest rail ()6 toward its pianissimo position, the cords 17 9 and 186 are drawn upwardly, thus lifting the cross-bar 150 and raising the wippens 148 by means of the arms 1 19, and thus taking up the lost motion which would otherwise result between the hammer butts 146, and the jacks 1 17. The slots 17 2 and 184: permit of adjustment of the clamping screws 17 8, 185, so that the amount of takeup of the cords 17 9 and 186, may be varied, as desired.

In certain well-known makes of pianos, it has heretofore been common to take up lost motion in the hammer action by means of a rigid cross-bar corresponding to 150, supported by rods from the hammer rest rail, but, owing to the peculiar movement of the rest rail in the present invention I have: found it necessary to provide the above de scribed means in addition to, and separate from, the rest rail for taking up this lost motion, as the rest rail is moved. 1

By virtue of the special construction of magnet rail which I have shown and described, I am enabled to employ ordinary dry batteries for operating the controlling magnets. This is due to the fact that, as above pointed out, magnets of the iron-clad type have a higher efiiciency than magnets of any other kind, and require a much. smaller magnetizing current. It will also be; observed by reference to Fig. 9 that the armature lies across the face of the magnet rail in such a manner as to form with the core 23 and walls of the pocket, a closed magnetic circuit of small reluctance. Heretofore a great objection to the use of elec-' trically-controlled piano-players has been the necessit for using a rotary converter or similar devlce, for the purpose of transforming ordinary street or lighting current into current of a voltage suitable for operating the controlling magnets. The voltage of the ordinary street current is too high, since it produces destructive sparking at the contact-fingers, andheretofore it has been impractical to employ primary batteries, for

the reason that the consumption of current and consequent cost of maintenance was prohibitive. I

In the present design I have produced a construction by which the use of the objectionable converter has been eliminated, and in which the cheap and well known dry batteries may be readily and effectively employed. While I have shown an electric motor for operating the drum it will be.

understood that I do not of course limit self in this respect, since it is obvious that; any desired form of motor device may be; employed as circumstances may dictate,- For example, in localities where street cur-j rent is not available, I may employ footi power mechanism for driving the drum and? take up rolls.

It will thus be seen that I have provided piano-playing mechanism which obviates a, large number of the objections and dilficultics heretofore experienced with such deQ vices, and one which lends itself to a great variety of conditions, and it is thought that the numerous advantages of my invention will be readily appreciated by those skilled in the art.

What I claim is:

1. In an electrically controlled playing mechanism for pianos, a series of magnets, and a series of armatures associated therewith, each of said armatures comprising a rigid body portion, and asuperposed springplate secured thereto but spaced therefro and hammer actuating elements connec with said spring plates.

2. In an electrically controlled playing mechanism for pianos, a series of magnets, and a series of armatures associated therewith, each of said armatures comprising a rigid body portion and a superposed sp plate secured thereto at one end only diig spaced therefrom but co-extensive therewith and a hammer actuating element connected with the free end of each of said spring plates.

3. In an electrically controlled playing mechanism for pianos, a series of magnets, and a series of armatures associated therewith, each of said armatures comprising a. rigid body portion movably supported at one end, and a superposed spring plate, connected therewith near one end adjacent the support, and spaced apart therefrom substantially throughout its length, a set screw passing loosely through said spring plate near its free end to limit its movement relative to the body portion, and a hammer actuating element pivoted to the free end of each of said sprin plates.

4. In an electrical y controlled playing mechanism for pianos, a series of magnets, and a series of armatures associated therewith, said armatures comprising rigid and resilient portions, shoes connected with the hammer actions and pivoted to the resilient portions of said armatures, and a rota drum arranged in cooperative relation with said shoes. I

5. In an electrically controlled playing mechanism for pianos, a magnet ra1l, a series of armatures pivotally supported thereon, each of said armatures comprising a rigid body and a superposed spring plate, hammer actuating elements pivoted to said spring plates, adjustable means for limiting the movement of each of said spring plates relative to the associated rigid body portion, and other adjustable means for limiting the movement of each of the armatures as a whole.

6. In an electrically controlled playing mechanism for pianos, a magnet ra1l, a series of armatures pivotally supported thereon, the free end of each armature havin a pintle projecting from each side thereo a...v

series of hammer actuating elements controlled by said armatures and each being provided with a pair of spaced resilient ears having openings therein to engage said pintles, and adapted to be sprung into place;

over the same.

7. In an electrically controlled playing mechanism for pianos, a magnet ra1l, a series of armatures pivotally supported thereon, the free end of each armature being prol l l l vided with a pint le projecting from each:

side thereof, "a, series of hammer actuating elements controlled by said armatures, each of said hammer actuatlng elements having secured thereto a" spring clip having spaced ears adapted to embrace the end of its reextending from said friction shoes to the respective hammer actions, and means for justably securing said 7 tapes to the shoes,

such meanscomprlsmg a clip'secured to each shoe and having an opening through which said tape is adapted to pass, the metal from said opening being turned backupon the under side of said clip, and so arranged as to; bite into said tape'and holdit in position. 9. The combination with a piano having the usual hammeraction, of an automatic playing mechanism therefor, means for supporting said playmg mechanism, and means connected with the supporting means for adjusting saidplaying mechanism as a whole towardand from said. hammer action, and

I also longitudinally thereof.

1O.v The combination with a piano having the usual hammer action, of an automatic rectilinearly adjustable means for supporting playing mechanism therefor, and universally rectilinearly adjusted means for supporting said playing mechanism in operative relation with said hammer action.

11. The combination with apiano, of automatic playing mechanism therefor comprising" a supporting rail, a supporting bracket secured to the piano frame and carrying/at its end an adjustable clamp, and a islidable connection between said clamp and supporting rail.

12. The CQIIlblIlatlQII with piano, of au-- tomatic playing mechanism therefor comprising a supporting rail, and means for supporting said mechanism in the upper part of said case, such meanscomprising a bracket secured to the piano frame, a vertically adjustable clam-p carried by said bracket, and longitudinally adjustable means connecting said clamp and rail.

.13. An electrically controlled 1 playing mechanism for pianos comprising a bar of magnetic materialprovided with pockets,

electromagnet coils in said pockets, friction shoes governed by said magnet-coils and con nected with the hammer actions, a rotary drum: cooperatively associated with said friction shoes, a source of current for energizing said magnet coils, and a separate-and independent power device for driving said rotary drum.

,,14. An" lectromagnet'ic playing mechanism comprising a rectangular'bar of mag- 'netic material having a line of pockets in its body and opening on one face of the bar, magnet coils and cores located within said pockets, armatures for said coils, .said armatures being located upon the top face of said bar and overlying the open ends of the pockets, said armatures being hinged upon one face" of the bar, actuating shoes connected to said armatures and lying normally adjacent to anotheraface of the bar, said shoes having, their toes underlying the bottom of the bar, and a movable power shaft underlying said shoes and supported from said bar. a c

15. An automatic musical instrument comprising ,a plurality of'soundrp'roducing elements, a hammer action-therefor, an automatic electromagnetic playing ,mecha'nism comprising a bar of magnetic material-lei;-

and having a line of pockets in its body and opening on one facethereof, magnet coils.

and cores located within said pockets and together with said bar constituting electromagnets, magnetically operated. actuating mechanism for the hammer action, the ele ments of said magnetically operated actuating mechanism being grouped around said bar, and connections between the actuating mechanism and the hammer action.

16. An automatic musical instrument comprising a sound-producing element, a hammer action therefor, an electromagnetic playing mechanism comprising a rectangular bar of magnetic material extending lengthwise of the hammer actionand having a pocket opening on one of its faces, a magnet coil and a magnet core extending into said pocket and together with said bar constituting an electromagnet, magnetically operated actuating mechanism for the hammer action, the elements of said magnetically operated actuating mechanism cated within said pockets, armatures for-said coils and cores, said armatures being located upon the top face of said bar and overlying the adjacent ends of said pockets, saidarmatures being hinged on one face of the bar, actuating shoes connected to the armatures and lying normally adjacent toanother face of. the bar, said shoes having their toes normally underlying the bottom of the bar, conbeing. grouped around and supporteddirectly from.

ne'ctions from the hammer action to the acn elements, a hammer action therefor, and an rial extending lengthwise. of the hammer action and having a line of ockets, magnet coils and cores mounted wit in said pockets and by aid of said rail constituting elec-' tromagnets, an actuating mechanism the elements of which are grouped around said bar and controlled by saidlelectromagnets, and

connections between said actuating mechanism and said hammer action.

19.cAnautomatic musical instrument comprising a plurality of sound-producing electromagnetic playing. "mechanism comprising a fixed rectangular bar of magnetic material, said i bar having pockets opening upon one of its faces, ma et coils and cores mounted within said poc rets, armatures for i mediately around said bar and including arsaid coils and cores, said armatures being located adjacent to the top face of saidbar and overlying the adjacent ends of said pockets, said armatures being hinged-upon an adjacent faceof said bar, actuating shoes connected to the armatures and lying normally adjacent to another face of said bar, said shoes having their toes normally underlying the bottom' of the bar, connections from the hammer=action to the actuating shoes, and a movable power shaft underlying said shoes and connected with said bar.

20. An automatic musical instrument comprising a plurality of sound-producing elements, a hammer action therefor, an electromagnetic playing mechanism comprising a fixed bar of magnetic material containing a plurality of chambers and supporting said mechanism, a magnet coil and core within each chamber, said cores being connected with said bar and together therewith and with the coils constituting electromagnets, actuating mechanism for the hammer action, said actuating mechanism being grouped immatures coacting withsa'id electromagnets, and connections between the actuating mechanism and the hammer action.-

21.'An automatic musical instrument comprising a plurality of sound-producing elements, a hammer action'therefor, a casing for said elements and said action, an

'electromagnetic'playing mechanism also located in said'casing and comprising arectangular bar of magnetic material containing a plurality'of parallel chambers opening on one edge, a-magnet coil and core with- 1n each chamber, an armature for each magnet, and movable actuating elements with said bar and together therewith and I constituting electromagnets, actuating meeh ifor the hammer action, said magnet cores of said mechanism being connected directly with the coils constituting electromagnetsy the several remainin elements of said mech fanism being groupe around and supported i from the several faces of said her. 1 22. An automatic musical instrument comprising a plurality of soundroducing 1 elements, a hammer action there or, a cas 7 @ing for said elements and action, and an eleal gtromagnetic playin mechanism connectdv {with said action an located in said casing}? said playing mechanism comprising a fixed; bar 'of' magnetic material parallel to said 'fll hammer action, magnet coils and cores'su 3 A ported'by said bar and together therewi ll anism for the hammer action, the element!" of said actuating mechanism bein grouped i fl' around and supported directly rom said bar, and connections between the actuating mechanism and the hammer action.

23. A self-playing musical instrumenti 5 comprising a plurality of sound-producing? elements, a hammer action therefor, a casing I, for said. elements and said action, and electromagnetic playing mechanism conneet ed with said hammer action and located within said casing, said mechanism comprising a rectangular supporting bar, said bar being provided with chambers extending di l rectlyinto it, magnet coils and cores located! wholly within said chambers and together with said bar constituting a plurality 01 electromagnets, armatures for said magnets said armatures lying opposite the ends of: said magnets on one face of said bar and'g' each resiliently connected at one end of one sideto said bar, actuating shoesvpivotally' mountedon the opposite ends of said armatures adjacent to another side of said bar, a rotating power shaft to be engaged by said shoes when the magnets are energized to 1 attract the armatures and means for lessenw ing the shock of engagement of said shoes with said shaft. a

24. A self-playing musical instrument comprising a plurality of sound-producing? elements, a hammer action therefor, a casingi for said elements and action, and an electromagnetic playing mechanism connected with said hammer action andlocated within said casing, said mechanism comprising 8. rec tangular supporting bar, magnet coils and i cores carried in chambers formed in saidia bar and together therewith constituting a plurality of electromagnets, armatures for: a said magnets located adjacent to saidcoils] and cores and in proximity to one face 01 said bar, said armatures bein each resili! ently supported on one face 0 said bar, aci tuating shoes each pivotally connected to an armature and located adjacent to another: side of said bar, a rotating power-shaft to be engaged by said shoes when the magnets are energized, andmeans upon the face of said bar adjacent to said shoesfor lessening the shock of engagement of said shoes with said shaft, v I

25. In-a self-playing musical instrument comprising a plurality of sound-producing elements, a hammer action therefor, a casing for said elements and said action, an electromagnetic playing mechanism connected, with said hammer action and located within said casing, said mechanism comprising a supporting bar containing a plurality of chambers, a magnetic coil and core forming an electromagnet seated in each chamber and connected with said bar, armatures for said magnets disposed adjacent thereto, actuating shoes pivotally connected with said armatures and controllable thereby, adjustable yielding means forming a part of the connection between the shoes and the armatures, and a power shaft for operating said actuating shoes when moved into contact therewith.

26. An electromagnetic playing mechanism comprising a bar of magnetic material, magnet coils and cores forming electromagnets mounted in chambers in said bar, armatures movable relatively to said electromagnets, actuating shoes pivotally connected with said armatures and movable thereby, adjustable" yielding means forming a part of the connection between said shoes and armatures, and apower shaft against which said actuating shoes may be moved by aid of said armature.

27. An electromagnetic playing mechanism comprising a rectangular bar of magnetic material provided with a plurality of chambers, an .electromagnet carried in each chamber, the cores of said electromagnets being connected to said bar, armatures for said electromagnets on the top face of said bar, actuating mechanism including a plurality of actuating shoes, mechanism controlling said shoes, a power shaft, and means for regulatlng the travel ofsald actuating shoes toward said power shaft.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for 28. The combination of sound-producing elements, a hammer action for striking the same, a'magnet rail made of a single bar of magnetic material provided with chambers, means for supporting said bar, electromagnets located within said chambers, armatures for said electromagnets, shoes pivotally connected to said armatures and disposed adjacent to said electromagnets in close proximity to said bar, means for actuating said shoes, flexible connections between said shoes and the hammer action, and means for taking up slack in said connections.

29. The combination of a hammer action, a magnet bar provided with a plurality of chambers spaced apart, an electromagnet contained within each chamber, the core of which is connected to the bar, an armature for each electromagnet resiliently mounted on the magnet bar, a shoe pivotally connected to each armature, means for actuating said shoes, a flexible connection-between each shoe and the hammer action, and means for taking up slack in said connections.

30. An electrically controlled playing mechanism for pianos comprising a plurality of electro-magnetic members, a continuously rotating cylindrical member, a piano action including hammers, friction shoes each connected to a hammer to operate the same and each controlled by an electromagnet to cause said shoe to engage said rotating member and be actuated thereby and operate its connected hammer, an electric motor and a source of current therefor for driving said rotating member, and a source of current of low voltage and independent of the motor current for energizing the electromagnetic members.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

IRVING B. SMITH.

Witnesses Eow. H. ECKELMEYER, WALTER A. BILGER.

five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Iatents,

Washington, 10. 

